Lift door



T. MADLAND July 14, 1936.

LIFT DOOR Filed Aug. 3, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet l VEA/foeJ Wimax/ALD lMAD/wvo I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATT?? T. MADLAND LIFT DOOR Filed Aug. 5, 1934 `uly14, 1936.

July 14, 1936.

T. MADLAND LIFT DOOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 3, 1934 Y VEN Toe-#mex/ALD MAD/.AND

MII

Patented July 14, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LIFT DOOR of OhioApplication August 3, 1934, Serial No. 738,231

11 Claims.

This invention relates to lift doors'.

It is among the objects of this invention to provide a lift door'embodying a relatively longitudi-V nally movable carriage includingrolling means and wherein the amount of friction between the parts shallbe materially reduced; to provide a more stable lift structure utilizingrelatively longitudinally movable door supporting means ;y and toprovide a lift structure of sturdier construction and of reduced weight.

With these and other objects in view, which will become clear as thedescription of the invention proceeds, this invention comprises thenovel structure and combination of parts hereinafter described and moreparticularly pointed out and defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings form-ing part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a partial elevation of a railway freight car upon which adoor embodying the instant invention is mounted, the door being shown inlowered position;

Figure 2 is a View similar to- Figure 1, the door being illustrated inelevated position;

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a vertical section taken on line 5-5 of Figure l;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectionv taken on line l-lr of Figure 7, showinga modi-lied formv of the invention;

Figure 'Z' is a view similar to Figure l showing in elevation themodified form of invention illustrated in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a horizontal section taken on line 8 8 of Figure l; and YFigure 9 is a vertical section taken on line 9 9 of Figure 7.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to the embodiment of theinvention illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, and Figure 8,-

the numeral l0 designatesv a portion of the siding of a railway freightcar upon which a sliding door Il is mounted.Y The door I-I is ofv awellknown metallic construction andY is merelyillustrative of' one typeof door with which the invention may be employed. The side doorcomprises a metallic panel I2 provided with spaced horizontalcorrugations I3 and vertical corrugations i4 and l5 with which thehorizontal corrugations merge. rIlhe door is of the sliding type and issupported for suclr movement upon a track i6 supported. from. a` sidesill l'l by means of a plu-V (Cl. 2li-22) rality of brackets, one ofwhich is indicated at l.- Rivets are utilized to secure the track andtrack brackets to the side sill. The structure of the lower portiony o-fthe door comprises a substantial-ly tubular formation I9` secured to thelower horizontal margin of the panel l2 byl means of a plurality ofrivets 20.

The tubular formation comprises a plurality of plates 2l and' 22. Theplate 2l? is offset to provide a horizontal ange 23 from which saidplate extends vertically downwardly to provide a flange 24. The plate 22comprises a vertical dange 25y which,- adjacent the lower portionthereof, is offset outwardly toprovi-de a substantially horizontalflange 26 which, in turn, isf bent downwardly to provide a verticalflange 21'. The upper portions of the plates 2li and 22 are securedtogether by therivets 29 which fasten said plates tothe lower margin ofthe panel i2 while the lower portions of the plates are fastenedtogether by means of rivets 28- which extend through the verticalflanges 24 and 2l, respectively of the plates. BY means of thisconstruction it is to be observed that a tubular formation results,definedv by the horizontal flanges 23 and 26 and the vertical flanges 24and 25.

Withinthe above described tubular formation is disposed a carriage 29.This carriage comprises preferably an anglemember 30 arranged with oneleg 3l positioned in a vertical plane and the other leg 32 directedinwardly relative to the car. A roller carrying member 33' is secured toeach end ofthe angle member 3B; Each of the roller carrying memberspreferably comprises a pair of plates 34 and 35. The plate 35' issubstantially straight` and is disposed upon the outside of the verticalleg" 3lof the angle memberl 30. The plate 35 has a portion 36 abuttingthe vertical leg 3l upon the inside thereof, said portion 36- and theplate 33 beingriveted to the' adjacent end of the angle member 30. Fromits point of securement tov the angle member the plate 35v is offsetinwardly as indicated at 31 to p-rovide a portion 38 disposed in spacedparallel relationsl'iipv to the plate 33. A roller 39* disposed betweenthespaced portions of the plates 34 and 3-5 said roller being mountedupon a pin 40`v fastened in the plates 34 and 35. filler block 4l isdisposed between theportion 38 of the plate 35 and the plate 34V and isriveted to said plates beyond the roller. The upper surface of thefiller block 4I as well as the upper surface ofthe adjacent portions ofYthe plates 34 and 35' are provided with a substantially V-shapedindenture 42 adaptedv to'- receive a roller bearingI 43'. The

plate 34 is extended downwardly and is provided with a hook portion 44within which the depending flange 45 of the track |6 is received inorder to prevent accidental disengagement of the door from the track. Itwill be clear from Figure 3 of the drawings that the depending portionupon which the hook is provided lies upon the outside of the track andin order to permit this disposition of said portion the flange 21 of theplate member 22 is coped as indicated at 46 and 41. It will be observedfrom Figure 1 of the drawings that this coped portion is of greaterextent than the length of the depending hook portion. By means of thisrelationship the flange 21 is utilized to limit the relativelongitudinal movement of the carriage with respect to the track ashereinafter more fully set forth. The foregoing description has beenapplied to the structure at one end of the carriage 29 inasmuch as theconstruction of the opposite end of said carriage is substantially thesame.

A filler block 48 is disposed between and secured to the verticalflanges 24 and 25 of the plate members 2| and 22 as by means of rivets49 in spaced vertical alignment with each of the filler blocks 4|provided on the carriage. The lower surface of each of the filler blocks48 is provided with a substantially inverted V shaped indenture 50. Itwill be clear from the foregoing that a roller bearing lies within thearea defined by the V shaped indenture 42 and the inverted V shapedindenture 50. The inverted V shaped indentures, when the door is in itsnormal or lowered position, are preferably out of contact Y with theroller bearings.

In the normal or lowered position of the door it is disposed upon andhas frictional engagement with the track. In the instant embodiment ofthe invention such frictional engagement is provided by the contactbetween the horizontal fiange 26 of the plate 22 and the track. Whilethe weight of the door is thus carried directly by the track thearrangement of the rollers 39 is such as to engage the track and forthis purpose the horizontal ange 26 is coped as indicated at I.

In order to move the door upon the rollers 39 the weight of the door isfirst transferred from the track to the rollers. Such transference ofthe weight of the door is obtained by imparting a longitudinal movementof the carriage 29 relative to the door and the track. For this purposea lever 52 pivoted intermediate its ends upon a boss 53 formed on abracket 54 secured to the door extends through an opening 55 provided inthe horizontal ange 23 of the plate member 2|. The lower portion of thelever 52 is provided with spaced prongs 56 and 51 which extend throughcorresponding openings 58 and 59 formed in the horizontal leg 32 of theangle member 3D. It will be apparent from a consideration of Figures 1and 2 of the drawings that as the carriage 29 is shifted longitudinallyupon the track its movement will be limited by the engagement of thedepending portion of the carriage with one end of the recess provided inthe vertical flange 21 of the plate member 22 and the roller bearingswill be engaged by opposite branches of the indentures provided in thefiller blocks 4| and 48. The engagement between these parts and thecontinued longitudinal movement of the carriage 29 will cause the rollerbearings to ride up the engaged branch of the V shaped indenturesprovided on the carriage so as to effect elevation of the door.whereupon the horizontal flange 26 of the plate member 22 will bedisengaged from the track. The weight of the door has thus been shiftedfrom the track to the rollers and the door may then readily be movedupon the rollers to the desired position. When it is desired t0 move thedoor in the opposite direction the operating lever 52 will be swung insaid direction so as to impart longitudinal movement to the carriage 29.The remaining opposite branches of the indentures provided on the doorand on the carriage will then engage the roller bearings 43 so as tocause said bearings to roll up the engaged branches of the carriageindentures in order to elevate the door. The door may then again bereadily moved upon the rollers 39.

A further embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figures 6, '7and 9 of the drawings. In this embodiment a carriage 60 is providedwhich comprises an angle member 6| disposed with the legs thereof indownwardly diverging relationship, whereby such legs constitute a runway62. Within this runway and in contact with a door supporting track 63 aplurality of balls 64 are disposed. The balls 64 are maintained inspaced relationship by means of a spacer 65 provided with pairs ofupstanding prongs 66 and 61, between which each ball is disposed.

A plurality of spaced saddles 68 are secured upon the angle member 6|.Each of said saddles comprises a plurality of V shaped indentures 69 and10 adapted to receive ball bearings 1| and 12. It will be observed thatthe V shaped indentures and, consequently, the ball bearings disposedtherein lie upon opposite sides of the axis of the angle member 6|.

The carriage above described is preferably disposed between asubstantially Z shaped member 13 and a plate member 14. The upperportion of the plate member and one Vertical flange of the Z shapedmember are secured as by means of rivets 16 to the lower horizontalportion of the panel 2. The other vertical flange 11 of the Z shapedmember 13 lies in spaced relationship to the plate member 14 so as toprovide space for the reception of the carriage 69. The lower margin ofthe vertical flange 11 may be turned inwardly as indicated at 18 so asto avoid the track when the door is in lowered position.

A plurality of spaced members 19 are secured to the web 80 of the Zshaped member 13 and extend between the vertical flange 11 thereof andthe plate 14. Each of these members 19 is provided with a plurality ofinverted V shaped indentures 8| and 82 disposed in vertical alignmentwith the V shaped indentures 69 and 1U provided on the saddle members68. The indentures provided on the saddle members 68 and on the members19 provide spaces for the reception of the bearing balls 1|.

Frictional engagement between the door and the track in the normal orlowered position of the door is obtained by Contact between the portion18 of the vertical flange 11 and by means of the contact between thegusset members 83 and 84 secured, respectively, to the lower corners ofthe door. In order to break such frictional engagement and to supportthe door upon the balls 64 for antifrictional movement relativelongitudinal movement is imparted to the carriage on the lower portionof the lever straddle an 5 abutment 90 formed on a bracket .member 9|secured to the carriage.A Longitudinal movement is imparted to thecarriage 6l! byswinging the upper end of the lever in the directionit isdesired to movethe door. During such longitudinal movement of thecarriage the bearing-.balls 1l will be engaged between 4,opposedbranches of the indentures provided -on the saddle members 68 and themembersv I9 and said bearing balls will be caused to roll up theengagedbranch of the V `shaped indentures provided on thesaddle members. As thebearing balls move up suc-h branches VVan elevating movement will beimparted to the door so that-,the frictional engagement of said doorwith the track will be broken. 'I'he weight of the door havingAthus-been transferred to the balls 64 the doormay readily be moved inthe desired direction.

In both embodiments of the invention the door will automatically seatitself in frictional engagement with the track when the operating leveris released. In the instant embodiment of the invention the plate Misprovided with a tongue `92 preferably struck out of the` plate asindicated at 93. The tongue 92 overlies the ball spacer 65 and in thelowering movement of the door said tongue engages and lies upon thespacer. By this construction the weight of the door is utilized tomaintain the spacer in xed relationship with respect to the track so asto avoid accidental shifting of the balls 64 upon the track.

It will be apparent that numerous changes and modications in the detailsof the invention will be clear to those skilled in the art. It isintended, therefore, that all such modifications and changes becomprehended within this invention, which is to be limited only by thescope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

l. In a car door, a carriage capable of relative longitudinal movementwith respect to said door, antifriction supporting means for saidcarriage, longitudinally inclined guideways provided on said carriage,longitudinally inclined guideways provided on said door and antifrictionmeans disposed between sai-d guideways.

2. In a car door, a carriage capable of relative longitudinal movementwith respect to said door, antifriction supporting means for saidcarriage, substantially v shaped guideways provided on said carriage,guideways of substantially inverted V shape secured to said door inspaced vertical relationship to said carriage guideways and antifrictionmeans disposed between said guideways.

3. In a railway car having a door opening in a side thereof, a tracksecured to said car adjacent said opening, a door for closing saidopening, said door in its lowered position having frictional engagementwith said track, a carriage, antifriction means supporting said carriageupon said track for longitudinal movement relative to said door and saidtrack, means for imparting longitudinal movement to said carriage andmeans for converting said longitudinal movement of said carriage into avertical movement of said door, said latter means comprising verticallyspaced longitudinally inclined guideways provided, respectively, on saidcarriage and said door and antifriction means disposed between saidguideways.

4. In a railway car having a door opening in a side thereof, a tracksecured to said car adjacent saidopening a door for Aclosing saidopening, said door in its lowered position having frictional engagementwith said track, a carriage, antifriction means supporting saidcarriag-e upon said track for longitudinal movement relative to saiddoor and said track, means for imparting longitudinal movement to saidcarriage, substantially Vshaped guideways provided on said carriage,substantially inverted V shaped guideways provided on said door,antifriction means `disposed between said guideways whereby longitudinalmovement of said carriage will effect rolling engagement between saidrantifriction means and oppositely inclined branches of said doork andcarriage guideways and elevation of said door above said track.

In a car door, la carriage capable of relative Alongitudinal ,movementwith respect to said door, antifriction supporting means for saidcarriage, .substantially V shaped .guideways provided on said carriage,guideways of substantially inverted V shape secured to said door inspaced vertical relationship to said carriage guideways androller:beari-ngmembers disposed between said guideways.

6. In a car door, a carriage, a ball raceway provided on said carriage,balls seated in said raceway for supporting said carriage forlongitudinal movement relative to said door, a plurality of spacedmembers secured to said carriage, sai-d members being provided withlongitudinally inclined guideways, ball bearings seated in saidguideways, said door being provided with longitudinally inclinedguideways disposed above said ball bearings.

7. In a car door, a carriage, a ball raceway provide-d on said carriage,balls seated in said raceway for supporting said carriage forlongitudinal movement relative to said door, a plurality of spacedsaddles secured to said carriage, guideways provided on said saddlesdisposed upon opposite sides of the axis of said carriage, guidewaysprovided on said door vertically aligned with said saddle guideways,said guideways being longitudinally inclined, and ball bearings disposedbetween said guideways.

8. In a car door, a carriage, a ball raceway provided on said carriage,balls seated in said raceway for supporting said carriage forlongitudinal movement relative to said door, a plurality of spacedsaddles secured to said carriage, V shaped guideways provided on sai-dsaddles disposed upon opposite sides of the axis of said carriage,inverted V shaped guideways provided on said door vertically alignedwith said saddle guideways and ball bearings disposed between saidguideways.

9. In a railway car having a door opening in a side thereof, a tracksecured to said car adjacent said opening, a door for closing saidopening, said door in its lowered position having frictional engagementwith said track, a carriage, a ball raceway provided on said carriage,balls disposed upon said track and seated in said raceway for supportingsaid carriage for longitudinal movement relative to said door and track,a lever mounted upon said door for imparting longitudinal movement tosaid carriage, V shaped guideways provided on said carriage, ballbearings disposed in said raceways, inverted V shaped guideways providedon said door vertically above said carriage guideways, said doorguideways being out of contact with said ball bearings when said door isin frictional engagement with said track, said ball bearings engagingsaid carriage and door guideways upon longitudinal movement. of saidcarriage to raise said door above said track. Y

10. In a railway car having a door opening in a side thereof, a tracksecured to said car adjacent said opening, a door for closing saidopening, said door in its lowered position having frictional engagementwith said track, a carriage, a ball raceway provided on said carriage,balls disposed upon said track and seated in said raceway for supportingsaid carriage for longitudinal movement relative to said door and track,a spacer having means disposed on opposite sides of each of said ballsfor maintaining said balls in spaced relationship, means provided onsaid door for engaging said spacer in the lowered posltion of said doorfor preventing movement of said spacer, a lever mounted upon said doorfor imparting longitudinal movement to said carriage, V shaped guidewaysprovided on said carriage, ball bearings disposed in said guideways,inverted V shaped guideways provided on said door vertically above saidcarriage guideways, said door guideways being out of contact with saidball bearings when said door is in frictional engagement with saidtrack, said ball bearings engaging said carriage and door guideways uponlongitudinal movement of said carriage to raise said door Vabove saidtrack.

11. In a railway car having a door opening in a side thereof, a tracksecured to said car adjacent said opening, a door for closing saidopening, said door being frictionally supported in its lowered position,a longitudinally extending member, spaced rolling elements supportingsaid member upon said track for longitudinal movement relative to saiddoor and track, lever means pivoted upon said door and engageable withsaid member for imparting longitudinal movement thereto and cooperatingmeans including rolling devices and means having inclined surfacesassociated with said devices provided on said door and member foreffecting elevation of said door re- 20 sponsive to longitudinalmovement of said member and transferring the support of said door tosaid rolling elements.

Y THORVALD MADLAND.

